15.12.2007 Nordic Winner Show - Stockholm

This year Nordic Winner Show was held in Stockholm where we traveled with Marita and Kalleand their 2 skyes and one otterhound. Trip did not start so well when they told us in the boat thatit will leave 2 hours late. We thought that this is not promising good for us, but otherwise happened.

Our youngsters did it with style!Coop was selected best male 2 with CC and got his second winners title Nordic J. Winner 2007 in one week.Patu was selected best male 3 with reserv -CACIB right after Coop.Maritas younger skye was also best bitch 2 and got winners title. We are so sorry that we are not able to use our CCs because youngsters are still too young.This trip was not too bad after all!

09.12.2007 International Dog Show Helsinki - Winners Show

Finland Winners Show is always held in Helsinki on December some time near our independence day.This year we left one day earlier to attend on Catanka 10 -years breeders celebration.We had great evening with all the new and OLD Catanka people. It was totally great to meetUlla Särmäkari, kennel Bevelrock's who is to blame us to have these dogs. Thank you Seidi for giving us the opportunity to be part of this fabolous evening!

The next day we headed of Helsinki exhibition hall where the main event of the dog world in Finland was held.In Helsinki Winners Show totally 15 IWS were attending which must be a record for the breed in this great show.Our judge was Mikael Tranholm from Denmark, who is a vet and breeding cocker spaniels.He has a reputation of being extremely accurate and strict judge who is carefull with structures.

Patu was shown in champion class and Coop in junior class.Patu took the breed and got also Finland winner title 2007 with CACIB. Coop suprised us all being best male 2 right after Patu and got his fourth CC and Finland junior winner title 2007.I have to say that we had the perfect day!!!Thank you Seidi for showing Patu once again!!! doing a pretty nice job with him!!! Thank you!!

18.11.2007 International Dog Show - Jyväskylä

After the horrible drive in a very bad weather in the morning, I must admit that the day wasafter all quite nice for us. In addition to just being internatinal dog show, this yearJyväskylä was also Royal Canin special show where BOB junior was also selected.Our judge was bright new acquintance Tatjana Urek from Slovenia.There were totally 8 IWS. Patu was shown in champion class and Coop in junior class.Patu took the breed and got also CACIB. Coop was once again best male 3 and gothis third CC. After the official ring the best Royal Canin junior was selected.Merrily showing himself Coop was BOB -junior! This meant that he got the right to attend onthe best junior compatition with all the juniors selected on the show on Sunday.There must have been at least more than 100 juniors from different breends.This was Coops first time to show himself in the big ring. He was totally flying with his long steps and quite high speed. I was vainly worried before the ring.He did fabolous job and was selected among the 10 best juniors. I was so proud of him!!! He is barely 10 months old!!

21.10.2007 International Dog Show - Seinäjoki

International Dog Show in Seinäjoki was held traditionally in Seinäjoki Arena.Great place for a show, but this year they totally forgot to put carpet in our ring,so we had slip around the ring.Our judge was extremenly accurate and detailed old lady Elina Tan-Hietalahti.When Patu was attending on junior class in Tampere International Dog Showfew years ago he got critique with VG1. This year when we stepped in the ring,she remembered us from Tampere and told me that this is the way that the dog has grow up.She was wholly impressed by Patu and gave him one of the loveliest critique whichI personally really appreciate. It is not easy to impress this grand lady!!Patu took the breed with CACIB and Coop attending on the showthird time of his life VG1. This time Coop is really starting to show that he knowswhat he is doing in the ring!

19.10.2007 Our Dog - Finnish Kennel Club Newsletter

07.10.2007 International Dog Show - Oulu

On Sunday 700 km distance from Hyvinkää we had International Dog Show the very next day from the main spaniel special show.We slept few hours during the night and continued our way to Oulu early in the morning.I am glad that Marita was driving with me and Sari was driving ahead, so I just had to follow.In show we were accompanied by A-L, Arja, Sari, Marita and Julia.When you are as tired as I was this was the best companion you can imagine.We had totally fun!Patu took BOB with CACIB under slovenian judge Deniz Kuzelj andCoop took his second CC being best male 3 once again.Quite nice start from this little fellow who I have heard to said to be a star some day.

06.10.2007 Main Spaniel Special Show - Hyvinkää

This is one of the most important shows of the year and always held on October in Hyvinkää.The darkest time of the year and more than 500 km to drive, so you can imagine thatwe had to leave early in the morning. I took Patu and Coop with me.This was Coops first time to be shown in junior class.There were totally 19 IWSs.I must say that we did pretty well under danish judge Jessie Madsen, kennel Sieger's!We took 2 of given 3 best male placements.Patu was shown in champion class by Seidi being BOS and BIS-4 (unofficial BOS).Thank you Seidi, you looked amazing!Coop suprised us all taking one of the 3 given excellents and being best male 3 with his first CC making me so proud of him!

22.09.2007 Finnish Championship Test in Tracking

What a weekend, we learned so much..and Totti was beheaving like a gentleman and stole more than one people heart.The sad thing in the test was that it was pooring rain the whole day and we were totally wet,although it did not reduce the atmosphere at all.Totti did well in the test except the final turn, where he could not resist the deerstampeding off when we arrived. This tedious event dropped us to winners class 2nd prize.Anyway we had totally fun and met a great deal of lovely new people and judges,We got happy news after test in which it said that our friend Karla and Volvo (dachshound) wonthe whole test!! Congratulations!! and also the 3rd place was won by dachhound..

16.09.2007 Tracking Test - Kruunupyy

This was our last chance to practise before FC test in Mikkeli.In hard, windy and rainy conditions, only 2 of the champion class dogs got result.Totti was the other one, gaining 44/50 points and winners class 1st prize.In addition to hard landscape and weather conditions,Totti had one extra turn right in the end of the track.Totti did one of the best tracking job I have seen and eventhe judge Hannu Suonto said that you can rarely see this type of markingand cut-off turn job (solving the part of the track in one turn totally without blood). But we lost some points, because the judge said that Totti was not asinterested as he should when entering the end of the track and deer hoof.Hope he will do as good job as he has done before in FC test!

04.09.2007 Finnish Championship Test in Tracking 2007 - Qualification

Finnish Championship Test in Tracking 2007 is going to be hold in Hamina on September 2007.Finland is divided in 19 kennel districts and all districts choose one competitoraccording to previous results or district championship tests to represent itself in Finnish Championship Test.Totti got the qualification from Middle Ostrobothnia Kennel District!!This is the first time in tracking test history in Finland when IWS is competing to become Finnish Champion.This is huge honour for Totti to represent first of all the breed, our local Middle Ostrobothnia Dog Club (K-PKK) and the whole Kennel District.I am totally sure that Totti will do his best!Special thanks for this honour also belongs to the district, our lovely friendswho have been supporting and teaching us to track, A-L and Karlaand ofcourse the people who are responsible for having this dog in Finland Seidi and breeder Florence!

11. - 12.08.2007 Tracking Tests - Sievi Maasydänjärvi

Weekend full of tracking, but totally worth it.Patu was taking part of Finnish Otterhounds tracking tests which were heldboth on Saturday and Sunday in Sievi 100 km from Kokkola.On Saturday Patu suprised us all taking 48/50 and 1st prize in open class.This was because of on last Wednesdays training he was still just watching birds and looking up....no real signs of real tracking..this was really his chance to show what he can or can not..On Sunday we had to believe that he can if he wants to. Patu got again 47/50 and 1st prize in open class being the only open class doggetting 1st prize result.This means that next time he is going to attend on winners class!!!! Great Patu!!!Thank you for letting Patu show what he really can..and thank you for the nice weekend..

22.07.2007 All Breed Show - Pello - Nordic Circle Show

Me and Anna-Lena with Patu, Coop, ms dachshound Fiona and golden Theaspent lovely weekend in Pello just north from Nordic Circle.This was special show for us, because Coop participated the first time in puppy class being just over seven months.He did it with style even our judge was not a small man especially when looking with dogs eyes.Our lovely , humorous and very thorough judge was Theo Leenen from Belgium.Coop got lovely critique with the last sentence being very promising,very being underlined.Patu was selected BOB.

15.07.2007 International Dog Show - Kokkola

The city of Kokkola really did have a dog full weekend. One of the biggest agility event called Klag was held at the same time asthe international dog show. Manta (Patus mother) and Petra who spent the week with usattended all three days taking part of three diffent compatisions. Manta and Petradid very well getting good results with only few mistakes. Very well Manta and Petra!Patu attended on dog show being BOB with CACIB under swedish judge Bertil Lundgren.BOS was Siiri (Catanka Freeloader) with Pirjo.Sadly the weather was not on our side and just before the ring it stared to rain like pouring.In the group ring we did not even had chance with half wet legs and sides.But totally lovely week and weekend anyway, next year we will do it again!

08.07.2007 Sjulnäs, Sweden - International Dog Show

Our traditional summer trip to Sweden. This year same as last year we stayed in Ladrike camping Piteå. Our cottage or should we called it croft house was totally suitable for dog people.It was located a short distance away from the camping area with own yard.Our group was composed of four lovely ladies, me, Petra, Marita and Anna-Lena andtwo thibetan terriers, two datchhounds, one golden and two water spaniels Patu and Manta(Catanka Havis Amanda, Patus mother).The show was held in Sjulnäs.The place is totally lovely, but the weather we had was absolutely not.It was raining and blowing the whole time and the temperature was just + 8 degrees.We only had our summer clothes with us, so we had coldOur judge was Svend Lövenkjaer from Denmark.Patu was selected BOB with CACIB, which means that we now have CACIBS fromall the nordic and baltic countries. Manta was best bitch second with RES-CACIB.

24.06.2007 Mid Summer Show - International Dog Show Rovaniemi

International Mid Summer Show was held in Rovaniemi in Lapland.Rovaniemi is famous about its raindeers and Santa Claus, who is said to live there too.On the way up to north we stayed night in Pirjos house in Liminka, which is about half the way to Rovaniemi. Both of the boys, Totti and Patu, lovedstay there accompanied by Siiri 'Catanka Freeloader'.

In Rovaniemi Patu was selected BOB with CACIB under Finnish judge Harri Lehkonen with oneof the best critique he has ever got.Siiri was BOS, congratulations for Siiris CACIB! Way to go Pirjo!!

02. - 03.06.2007 Tracking tests - Kannus Koskenmaa

What a lovely day it totally was!!! Thank you all!!Totti is now officially Finish Tracking Champion!!!!(Thank you Seidi for the ready written test)Finnish IWS Club arranged its first tracking test. 6 dogs participated on both Saturday and Sunday (of which total 8 were IWS). All Irishers - except one - were first time in the tracing test. The weather in a way co-operated, but in a way did not. Well it did not rain, but it it was very hot and sunny both days. On Saturday the temp was around + 25 C, and on Sunday even more. So not at all ideal for the dogs. Ground was wonderful. Such an easygoing forest with most pinetrees and no hills and rocks nor big ditches. Something very different what I'm used to. There were lots of footprints of deers and elks, and even bear (I now first time saw what a bear footprint looked like). The blood tracks are layed on the previous day, so during the night it's very obvious there has been wild animals crossing them.

Totti (Am Ch Castlehill's Air Jordan O'Landacre - Am Ch Hooligan's Holy Grail) was in a situation he needs one more 1st prize becoming Finnish Tracking Champion. Two weeks earlier a bear had mixed him and others in the test completely. But we thought it'd be even more special to become titled from our Club's own test. And Totti did it with style! Gaining full 50 points out of 50!Our judge said during his 20 years judging experience, he has only three times been in a situation the dog gets full points. Totti is our breed's second Tracking Champion.Becoming a Tracking Ch a So minimum it takes 5 tests. This was Totti's 7th tracking test, so anyone can say he seems to be a tracking virtuous. Congratulations are going to his breeder Florence Blecher in USA. Thank you Florence sending him here! And thank you Nina - Totti's co-owner - becoming interested in tracking, so Totti was able to show what he can. It's rather obvious that Nina owns the head part of him. And I seem what's between the hindlegs, as just two days before the test, Totti has mated my Ella (Int Ch Catanka Taste of Waltz) ;-).On Sunday..It was Patus turn to show how to track. He did it well until the first corner which were located quite close to road and where also was fresh elk foot prints. This was his first and fortunately only damned lost.Despite the one lost the lost two prize positions and got open class 3 prize with 29 points.Hopefully someday Patu will follow Tottis example and starts to enjoy this nice sport.

20.05.2007 Tracking test - Kruunupyy

Bears bears bear.. not Tottis day to do tracking.On Saturday when the tracks were done some noticed that there are fresh bear footprings on ground . On Sunday this mixed the testcompletely and we decided to drop out completely when we were half way of the track.Tottis result was winners class 0.This meant that we needed still one more 1st prize for him to get the tracking champion title. More pressure for us, the next testwas going to be the first tracking test organised by Irish Water Spaniel Club in Kannus.

17.05.2007 Tracking test - Sievi

The worst weather you can imagine and of course during our tracking test day.It was very windy and raining all the day long as it was the day before.Bad weather did not disturb Tottis accomplishment andhe took winners class 1st prize being also the best dog of the test.Now he needs only one more 1st prize result to be Finnish tracking champion.Lets see how long we have to wait!

12.05.2007 Österbybruk, Sweden - International Dog Show

Totally lovely place and excellently arranged.Patu was best male 2 under Swedish judge Bertil Lundgren and he became Swedish champion.It was very thrilling to show him, because present was alsoone of the oldest and most respected Swedish IWS breeder and also judge, from Coffees kennel,whose Irish import Colleenville Stop the Rakin (Coops grandfather) also took the breed.Totally the place were we are going to travel again!Hope I will have some pictures from the show to add.

22.04.2007 Hartstad, Norway - International Dog Show

The total driving time was about 28 hours all together - but it was totally worth it.Hartstad in Norway is locaed about 990 km north from Kokkola.

The trip was very long but landscape got better and better the closer we arrived. Hartstad hall was located almost the top of the mountain andyou can not imagine what the view was like.Patu was selected BOB with CACIB under Swedish judge galled Dan Eriksson.He is now also Norwegian and Nordic champion.

15.04.2007 International Dog Show - Vaasa

Vaasa international dog show was held in very comfortable Botnia Hall. Evenwhen it was quite warm spring day the hall was nice and cool.Our judge was one of the most respected judges called Hans 'Hasse' Lehtinen. The same man who will judge our club show this year.Patu was selected BOB with CACIB with a lovely critique.

31.03.2007 Limited show - Kokkola

Once we did not need to travel 500 km to get a dog show. In Kokkola, we had limited show for groups 5, 6. and 8. The amount of dogssuprised the organisers and one more judge for the group 8. was needed to be invited.Patu was selected BOB under Finnish judge Saila Juutilainen. In group underFinnish judge Tarja Hovila, Patu did it again and took BIG-2.What a lovely day to spend all our friend and their dogs!

08. - 19.03.2007 Baltia tournee 2007

Our first ever Baltia tournee started with 5 other lovely ladies and with 9 other dogs onlate Thurday evening. First we headed off Lithuania and Vilna to attend on two internationaldogs shows, the other one being Lithuanian winner show.Lithuanian winner show was held on 10th of March. Patu was selected BOB with CACIB andTotti being second in champion class gaining reserved CACIB under Check judge Libuse Ubrova. Patu gained his third winner title, Lithuanian winner 2007, andbecame Lithuanian champion.The second international dog was Vilnius winner show and was held on 11th of March.This time it was Tottis turn to be BOB with CACIB under Israeli judge Zwi Kupferberg. In this show Totti gained his Lithuanian champion title.Both days in Lithuania this happy group gained unleast five BOBs and one BIG-5.Congratulations to all winners!After few days of holiday the group headed off Latvia, Riga to attend on Latvia winner show.Our judge in the show was an old acquaintance Rita Skadike-Kadina from Latvia.Patu was selected BOB with CACIB, at the same time gaining his fourth winner title.Pockets full of new experiences and car full of new dog fixtures we travelled back home!Thank you all ladies, our 'groomer' Lottis and our driver Marita of this extermely interesting and happy Baltia tournee!

21.02.2007 Annual General Meeting - Tracking dog of the year

Our local dog clud had annual general meeting yesterday evening.Totally for our surprise Totti was awarded with 'Oksan Jälki' prize as the best tracking dog of the year 2006 with the highest score. I was so proud of him, this was totally amazing!!The real thanks for getting this prize belongs first to our special spaniel trainer Anna-Lena! Thank you for introducing us this lovely world of tracking.Special thanks also to Totti's breeder for letting us to have and train this lovely dog!As nearly as good thing that happened in the meeting was that I was awarded with prize called'Vuoden Kiltalainen'. This prize is yearly given to a person who has showed exceptional commitment and contribution to club activities.I must admit that we had rarely good evening!

11.02.2007 International Dog Show - Tallin

What a trip to Tallin! Me and Patu traveled to Tallinto attend on International Dog Show which was held in new Saku Arena.We did it with bang! First day Marita's otterhund was selected BOB with CACIB.The second day Patu followed her example and was selected BOB with CACIB under Romanianjudge Christian Stavarache with this critique'In type good size, very elegant, normal bite, ribcage very well developed, perfect hindquarters in stand, good quality of coat, good temperament'The sad thing was that we did not have time to attend on group ring, because of our boat trip back to Finland.Very tired, but extremely happy with two new Estonian Champions we traveled back home.

27.01.2007 Winter Dog Show - Turku

The second large international dog was held in Turku. Turku gathered together 7 Irish Water Spaniels.Patu was once again selected BOB with CACIB under Dutch judge Lydia Erhard.In group ring under Swedish judge Karl-Erik Johansson Patu was selected among the 6 best dogs. Patu took also part of Catanka breeders group which was finally selected BIS-3.

07.01.2007 International dog show - Kajaani

The first dog show of the year 2007 was held in Kajaani. This international show gathered together almost 3700 dogs.Patu was selected BOB with CACIB by a Finnish judge Raija Tammelin. In group ringPatu was selected BIG-4 under a finnish judge Tarja Hovila. What a way to start new year!!Very big congratulations to Patu's breeder and our support group in Kajaani dog show.

2006

Our own first official homepage is now opened. This is the first rehersal version and on time we will make it better.By the way..I did not know how nice it is to brag ourself this way on the web:))

The year of 2006 has been more than fabulous for us. We have had more success and happy events that we could have ever imagine.For starters our pride and joy Totti was BOB in Piteå Sweden international dog show with commends ' dog which is shown in top condition with style'. Totti became Swedish champion with CACIB.After 2 weeks Totti continued to collect more champion titles in Brondby Denmark in a 4 day international dog show. Totti became Danish champion (thanks to great handler) with CACIB which means that he is also entitled to have an International Champion title. I am very proud to present a new INT & FIN & S & DK CH Hooligan's Globetrotter.Totti has done well also in tracking tests, where he got his first winners class 1st price right on his first attempt. Next year he is trying to achieve 2 more winners class results to be Finnish tracking champion.Patu, because of his young age has still be competing in junior and intermediate classes , but this has not been an obstacle for him to a good job in dog shows.In Helsinki winners show he got his last and 24th CAC and at the same time became Finnish and Danish champion.During the year of 2006 being under 2 years old he also was selected to BIS in limited show , BIG winner in all breed show, got also few times other BIG placements and was part of BIS-2 Catanka breeders group in Helsinki winners show.I am very proud to present a new FIN & DK CH, NORDJW 2005 & NORDW 2005 Catanka Knock on Wood.Thank you everyone who has been supporting us during the year of 2006.